Chinese–EnglishWith examples

道歉

dào qiàn · dao qian

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 6Old HSK 4

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to apologize
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In a conversation

0:21 cartoon

Say sorry

  1. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)昨天(zuótiān)对(duì)邻居(línjū)说话(shuōhuà)太(tài)大声(dàshēng)了(le)，我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)去(qù)道歉(dàoqiàn)。

    I spoke too loudly to my neighbour yesterday. I want to go apologize.

  2. Liangliang

    好(hǎo)，我(wǒ)陪(péi)你(nǐ)去(qù)。你(nǐ)想(xiǎng)怎么(zěnme)说(shuō)？

    OK, I'll go with you. What will you say?

  3. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)说(shuō)：对不起(duìbuqǐ)，我(wǒ)错了(cuòle)。

    I want to say: sorry, I was wrong.

  4. Liangliang

    只(zhǐ)说(shuō)对不起(duìbuqǐ)不够(bùgòu)，要(yào)认真(rènzhēn)道歉(dàoqiàn)。

    Just saying sorry isn't enough. You must apologize sincerely.

  5. Dengdeng

    那(nà)我(wǒ)买(mǎi)一盆(yīpén)花(huā)送给(sònggěi)他(tā)。

    Then I'll buy a pot of flowers for him.

  6. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)上次(shàngcì)道歉(dàoqiàn)也(yě)送了(sòngle)花(huā)吧(ba)？

    You gave flowers last time you apologized too, right?

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)不(bú)会(huì)原(yuán)谅(liàng)你(nǐ)，除(chú)非(fēi)你(nǐ)真(zhēn)诚(chéng)地(de)道(dào)歉(qiàn)。

I won’t forgive you unless you apologise sincerely.

Tatoeba: Chinese by GlossaMatik · English by sundown · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

我(wǒ)没(méi)发(fā)现(xiàn)任(rèn)何(hé)我(wǒ)该(gāi)道(dào)歉(qiàn)的(de)理(lǐ)由(yóu)。

I don't see any reason why I have to apologize.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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